By Mary Alice Murphy

At the beginning of the regular session of the Grant County Commission on Aug. 18, 2016, several people from the Sheriff's Department spoke during public input.

Cpl. Manuel Maldonado said he has been with the department since Nov. 5, 2007. "I stand alongside my brothers to speak to you about our concerns. But first I ask for a moment of silence for Jos+

He said 1,439 have been killed in just the past 10 years, which is 144 per year and an average of one dying every 61 hours. "Seventy-six have been killed in 2016."

"We are supporting getting more money for our officers," Maldonado said. "By next year in Silver City, they will be making more than $20 an hour. We protect county residents, but we also assist in Santa Clara, Bayard and Hurley and sometimes in Silver City, if it's a high profile situation."

He said the money being offered is not attracting qualified officers. "When the county was one of the highest paid in the state, we used to get more than 100 applicants, now we get five. We are asking for parity with Silver City."

Hector Carrillo, who has been with the department 12 years, said he has seen officers come and go, because of pay issues. "Bayard police are almost at our starting pay. We back up all the municipalities. We assist every time they ask. The only agency that can help us is State Police. We are the backbone for the county. We ask for a pay increase."

Sgt. Frank Gomez also brought up radio communications. "We also travel to Mule Creek, Hachita and I-10. Our radios don't work. It's a safety problem, because we are trying to switch channels while driving up to 100 miles per hour. Sometimes, we can't get through to the office from there. Also the vehicles are high mileage. The units get overly high in mileage."

Richard Maynes, county resident, said, since the Legislature had passed SB270 approving ATVs to travel on paved roads, he said he would like to see the county create an ordinance to that effect.

"I did some research," Maynes said. "It's a misconception that the legislation will allow ATVs and quads. I got input from the sheriff, Santa Clara, Hurley and Bayard. They all recommend the use of UTVs, not ATVs, because UTVs have rollbars and seat belts. UTVs are also called side-by-sides."

He said he owns a UTV and has put DOT approved road tires on it. The DOT also recommends putting signal lights on them before using on paved roads.

"I ask for an ordinance to allow UTVs on paved roads," Maynes said. "I respect bicyclists and motorcyclists. We should be equal. I don't think the Legislature would have passed something that was unsafe."

Jake Villegas, deputy in the Sheriff's Department, said he wanted to elaborate on the pay and on radios.

"Radio service is a big safety problem," Villegas said. "Often we go to calls and cannot use our handhelds when it is important to have radio communication. Sometimes we have to use our cell phones. And a lot of other departments offer bonuses to certified officers. We're losing to them."

Financial Officer Linda Vasquez presented the expenditure report for the past month. The accounts payable total was $2,339,521.58, including (all amounts are approximate) $57,000 for Jet Aviation fuel; $230,000 for business and conference center construction; $87,000 for fire equipment for the Lower Mimbres Volunteer Fire Department; $16,000 for a water truck; $226,000 for workers' comp; $11,500 to Engineers Inc. for North Hurley project; $23,000 to ACA Architects for LS Mesa substation; $28,000 for county manager office construction to make room for five commissioners; and $63,000 for Road Department roof.

Two payrolls, academic incentive and Sheriff's Department boot allowance totaled $457,795,68 bringing the grand total for the expenditures to $2,797,317.26.

Under new business, Chris DeBolt gave a presentation. She serves a dual role, as Grant County's representative on the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging and is interested in senior programs.

"We, County Manager Charlene Webb for the county Senior Program, in partnership with Western New Mexico University School of Nursing and I, wrote a grant to the Freeport-McMoRan Community Foundation for Helping Seniors Stay Healthy," DeBolt said. "We asked for $17,300, and they liked it so well, they gave us $20,000."

The senior population in Grant County in 2014 was 7,012. "This project proposes to serve 1,500 seniors from September through next June. Starting in September, one week a month, appropriate level nursing students will offer an array of basic health care services at the senior centers. Often our seniors don't have resources to take care of themselves. The services will include blood pressure checks, oximeter tests for oxygen saturation, and ear, nose and throat tests. The students will also do medication management and balance checks, as well as behavioral health checks. Chronic disease management is an issue in Grant County, because of the high levels of diabetes. The nurses will give referrals."

DeBolt said each senior will have a booklet kept at the senior center, and will receive individual attention from the nurses.

"The seniors will gauge their own health care improvements," she said. "The nurses want to collect data to develop best practices. This is a start. We have to look at needs. Our elderly have a wealth and lifetime of experience, with stories that need to be told and respected. I invite you to visit the senior centers."

Commissioner Ron Hall congratulated DeBolt for "stepping up and helping the community. We're seeing more seniors come into the community, because of our resources, hospital and climate."

Commissioners approved the proclamation of Sept. 17, 2016 as Recovery Grant County Celebration Day supporting recovery from alcohol or drug abuse.

Three 2006 Crown Victoria vehicles will be transferred from the Grant County Sheriff's Office to the WNMU Police Academy.

Several fiscal year 2017 fire protection grant applications were approved for the Lower Mimbres Volunteer Fire Department, the Santa Rita VFD, the Tyrone VFD, Upper Mimbres VFD and Fort Bayard VFD.

Commissioners approved an equipment inventory deletion listing of old and obsolete computer equipment, which will be recycled.

Under agreements, commissioners approved:
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